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Babcock Interview on 105.1 this morning

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I think Cleary would have a better bounceback season if he gets number 11 back. But maybe if Alfredsson plays and he doesn't have his number he'll have an off year.

If anyone needs to change numbers it's Weiss! The number 90 is cursed on this team; it should be taken out of circulation.

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Babcock is just the best coach in hockey and I truly believe him when he says he cares about his players. Yeah he can be hard but I also think he knows how to push them without overpushing them I mean, when guys like Toews, Weber, Crosby are willing to sacrifice their own points for the good of the team the coach is doing something right. The only sad part about the whole thing is this: it will be the last year the Wings are playing for him after this year they are playing against a babcock coached team :(

If you believe him when he says he cares about his players, why wouldn't you believe him when he says he's "confident a new contract will get done" and that "the grass is not always greener on the other side" (coaching another team)

Malik has listed a series of tweets from Brad Galli who obviously is breaking the interview down nto point form:

http://kuklaskorner.com/tmr/comments/red-wings-coach-mike-babcock-speaks-bluntly-during-interview-on-detroit-spo

IMO, the only way Babcock doesn't return for 2015-16 is:

a) Holland choses to go in a new direction with Blashill, for example

b) Holland himself opts out of his one year option or gets fired before Babcock is extended.

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I think Holland would be a fool to lock Babs up before seeing how this season plays out. You've got arguably the best coach not currently in the NHL in your back pocket, and you've got a team that's consistently underperforming in the playoffs. Give Babs the year. If the team is healthy and performs well, or if they lose in the playoffs but look strong, then bring him back. But if they miss the playoffs, get bounced early/get embarrassed, then let Babs walk on good terms (which he'd likely want anyway) and go with Blashill. 6 years of early playoff exits would be reason enough to make a change if that is indeed the case a year from now.

Edited by kipwinger

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Obvious speculation about "damage control" aside, Mike Barwis isn't the Red Wings trainer. He's an outside specialist and (based on my very brief internet search) seems to be pretty well respected and established.

Honestly I'd rather it be an outside trainer. I didn't listen to the interview so was going by what the article said (incorrectly, it sounds like), which referred to the team's trainer.

I think Holland would be a fool to lock Babs up before seeing how this season plays out. You've got arguably the best coach not currently in the NHL in your back pocket, and you've got a team that's consistently underperforming in the playoffs. Give Babs the year. If the team is healthy and performs well, or if they lose in the playoffs but look strong, then bring him back. But if they miss the playoffs, get bounced early/get embarrassed, then let Babs walk on good terms (which he'd likely want anyway) and go with Blashill. 6 years of early playoff exits would be reason enough to make a change if that is indeed the case a year from now.

I think that's better for Babcock, but I don't think it is for Holland.

Given the team Holland has put together this season, if I were Babcock I'd prefer not be locked in to the Wings for another contract to keep open the possibility of coaching somewhere else.

But if I'm Holland and want to keep the best coach in hockey on my team, I'd lock him up as soon as possible so it's not dependent on what could be a less than stellar year.

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I think Holland would be a fool to lock Babs up before seeing how this season plays out. You've got arguably the best coach not currently in the NHL in your back pocket, and you've got a team that's consistently underperforming in the playoffs. Give Babs the year. If the team is healthy and performs well, or if they lose in the playoffs but look strong, then bring him back. But if they miss the playoffs, get bounced early/get embarrassed, then let Babs walk on good terms (which he'd likely want anyway) and go with Blashill. 6 years of early playoff exits would be reason enough to make a change if that is indeed the case a year from now.

Why? You can fire a coach at any time with little repercussion. It's not like his salary goes against the cap.

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But if I'm Holland and want to keep the best coach in hockey on my team, I'd lock him up as soon as possible so it's not dependent on what could be a less than stellar year.

Did we hire Darryl Sutter while I wasn't paying attention? But I digress...

Why? You can fire a coach at any time with little repercussion. It's not like his salary goes against the cap.

Because I think none of the GM, coach, management, or ownership would prefer to fire someone when they can just let them walk without all the to-do.

I agree, there aren't many repercussions, but why would you (if given the choice) fire someone if you don't have to?

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Did we hire Darryl Sutter while I wasn't paying attention? But I digress...

Because I think none of the GM, coach, management, or ownership would prefer to fire someone when they can just let them walk without all the to-do.

I agree, there aren't many repercussions, but why would you (if given the choice) fire someone if you don't have to?

Yeah, he was so awesome in Calgary and San Jose.

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Yeah, he was so awesome in Calgary and San Jose.

Lol. You're so cute when you're contradictory.

I'll get back to you about this silly debate once I'm done watching youtube videos of Sutter hoisting the Cup for the second time. Afterward I'll watch Quenneville do it.

Be a doll and link me to the video of Babcock hoisting the Cup for the second time will you?

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Lol. You're so cute when you're contradictory.

I'll get back to you about this silly debate once I'm done watching youtube videos of Sutter hoisting the Cup for the second time. Afterward I'll watch Quenneville do it.

Be a doll and link me to the video of Babcock hoisting the Cup for the second time will you?

IMO, you've got Babcock, Julien, Tippett, Sutter and maybe Vigneault/Hitchcock.

Quenville could win 18 cups in 4 years and I still wouldn't drag him into the "pro" side of an arguement.

Just my opinion, of course.

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Lol. You're so cute when you're contradictory.

I'll get back to you about this silly debate once I'm done watching youtube videos of Sutter hoisting the Cup for the second time. Afterward I'll watch Quenneville do it.

Be a doll and link me to the video of Babcock hoisting the Cup for the second time will you?

Give Babs either of those rosters and he could easily accomplish that. Sutter is a good coach, but Babs is far superior to Q.

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Did we hire Darryl Sutter while I wasn't paying attention? But I digress...

Because I think none of the GM, coach, management, or ownership would prefer to fire someone when they can just let them walk without all the to-do.

I agree, there aren't many repercussions, but why would you (if given the choice) fire someone if you don't have to?

So you're saying the preferred method would be to let him walk? I agree, that would be more amicable. However, you made it sound like it would be some fool-hardy endeavor for Holland to sign Babcock for multiple years, which is not the case. Is it less desirable to fire him? Sure, but no worries if you had to.

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So you're saying the preferred method would be to let him walk? I agree, that would be more amicable. However, you made it sound like it would be some fool-hardy endeavor for Holland to sign Babcock for multiple years, which is not the case. Is it less desirable to fire him? Sure, but no worries if you had to.

I'm suggesting it's better to let him walk than fire him. And I believe if we miss the playoffs or get bounced early (and badly) then one or the other is coming. So why not let him walk amicably? I don't think we'd be having this conversation if Holland didn't already have Blashill ready to go, but you've got to think that another disappointing season would lead all parties involved to the conclusion that it's time for a change. And it just so happens we've got a good alternative already in our organization.

Give Babs either of those rosters and he could easily accomplish that. Sutter is a good coach, but Babs is far superior to Q.

Far too much is made of how good other people's rosters are and how bad Babs' rosters have been. He had seven 100+ pt. teams. Yet, he coached the President's Trophy winner to a first round loss in 2005-2006, and he lost with a very good roster (Lids, Franzen, Dats, Z, Hossa, Rafalski) in 2009 as well. He's had good teams and less good teams, as have Quenneville and Sutter. Difference is, they've won more cups with their good rosters than he has.

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Did we hire Darryl Sutter while I wasn't paying attention? But I digress...

Because I think none of the GM, coach, management, or ownership would prefer to fire someone when they can just let them walk without all the to-do.

I agree, there aren't many repercussions, but why would you (if given the choice) fire someone if you don't have to?

Babcock is easily one of if not the best coach in the NHL. That's not exactly a bold statement. Any article you read about Babcock from sources around the league refer to him as the best or one of the best.

Darryl Sutter is also a very good coach. He came on to a very good team at the right time and was a great fit.

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Babcock is easily one of if not the best coach in the NHL. That's not exactly a bold statement. Any article you read about Babcock from sources around the league refer to him as the best or one of the best.

Darryl Sutter is also a very good coach. He came on to a very good team at the right time and was a great fit.

Babcock is ONE OF the best coaches. I agree. We just happen to disagree on him being THE BEST coach, which is what you said initially. And it's not like he came on to a bad team either. Any argument made in his favor is equally valid for Sutter or Quenneville who, nevertheless, have more Cups.

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The thing with Babcock is, he has proven at every level that he cares about his players so I really believe that. When guys like Weber, Crosby and Toews are talking that highly about another coach that has to mean something.

As for his contract situation I think he is downplaying it a bit which is the right thing to do don't get me wrong. Others have mentioned it already what incentive does he have to sign here longterm? Holland is making his job more difficult every year, this roster hasn't improved since 2009 and once Godström retired things went even more on the downside. You just have to look at last season this roster had no business making the playoffs and yet the kids stole the show and somehow Babcock and the boys managed to still do it. This season looks like it may be the exact same roster just one year older so the job for Babcock is (again) more difficult. Why would he deal with that, if he could coach guys like Backes, Statsny, Schwarz, Pietrangelo (having Reeves to stick up for his stars), Crosby, Malkin all soon to be or in their primes ? Super Mario and Burke will pony up whatever amount of cash it takes to lure him to the Pens.

If the Wings are missing the playoffs this season I think heads will roll (Holland) and Babcock will be looking for a better opporunity. Don't get me wrong I'd love him to stay but it i clear the direction of this team isn't going the right way, the center depth is almost non existant and nobody knows if Marchenko won't return to the KHL or if Sproul can be that long needed RH offensive d man.

Putting myself into his shoes I would really prefer to see how the season - including the Trade Deadline - goes and then decide if I'm still willing to adapt to an ever increasing challenging, when I have the opportunity to coach young superstars on other teams with a brighter future. People who aren't appreciating him now will do so once we are facing a Babcock coached team and our new coach even its Blashill get's absolutely schooled and outcoached.

I love his answer about not wanting to be coached and I fully agree with it, if people really don't want to be fairly pushed and coached to become better players then Detroit isn't the place for them. That being said I don't think guys like Ehrhoff or Niskanen are afraid of that they sadly saw better opportunities elsewhere or our offers weren't good enough.

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Sutter is a good coach with a very good team. And the Kings went through some just horrendous seasons to bulk up. And they will still tell you today that it is Holland's Detroit that is the model.

And I agree with Babcock. If the bigger names don't want to be coached and pushed then don't bring them here. I can't read the man's mind, but I would figure if this season is a marked improvement from previous then he may stick around a couple more to see where it leads. If it is the same or worse, I would assume he walks (Hitch has a year in STL...deeper playoffs or get replaced year). Again, the only one who knows is Babcock but the interview did help in perception of the team/offseason.

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Babcock is ONE OF the best coaches. I agree. We just happen to disagree on him being THE BEST coach, which is what you said initially. And it's not like he came on to a bad team either. Any argument made in his favor is equally valid for Sutter or Quenneville who, nevertheless, have more Cups.

Kip. You really think Quenneville is a better coach than Babcock?

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Kip. You really think Quenneville is a better coach than Babcock?

I think there are several better coaches than Babs, including Quenneville. There are also several coaches who are "as good" as Babs. It wasn't unanimous that he was "the best" until he won the Olympic gold, which is more a function of the Canadian media collectively embracing him than anything else. Also, it's not like Sutter or Quenneville (or Julien, Tippett, or Hitchcock) would have lost to Latvia had they been picked in his stead.

He's a top five coach. But the proof is in the pudding. And despite some VERY good teams, his ring fingers are a little light.

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I think there are several better coaches than Babs, including Quenneville. There are also several coaches who are "as good" as Babs. It wasn't unanimous that he was "the best" until he won the Olympic gold, which is more a function of the Canadian media collectively embracing him than anything else. Also, it's not like Sutter or Quenneville (or Julien, Tippett, or Hitchcock) would have lost to Latvia had they been picked in his stead.

He's a top five coach. But the proof is in the pudding. And despite some VERY good teams, his ring fingers are a little light.

Fair enough.

For me, the only time I take Quenville over Babcock would have been this past season. Only because I'd rather have had a top 5 pick in the draft than squeak in to he playoffs with an AHL roster. ;)

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Lol. You're so cute when you're contradictory.

I'll get back to you about this silly debate once I'm done watching youtube videos of Sutter hoisting the Cup for the second time. Afterward I'll watch Quenneville do it.

Be a doll and link me to the video of Babcock hoisting the Cup for the second time will you

So on the one hand, you say anyone can coach a team if they have enough talent, like Babcock with Team Canada, then on the other hand you say only a great coach can win. You're contradicting yourself, Kippy. But you're not cute ;) If Sutter was so great, how is it that he failed miserably in SJ and Calgary?

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"I think we need to let our young people grow. We signed enough players to buy our kids time in the minors. We have four d-men who are going to play here eventually and probably be upgrades on our roster. How much time do they need? We don’t know the answer. [ . . . . ] I didn’t like us in the playoffs last year against Boston, but we like what we have coming. And we like our kids. So the biggest thing is not to rush it. We could really use some puck-moving D. Well, we just happen to have some puck-moving D in the minors. Big guys that can skate. When are they ready? We’re sure not going to rush them, but if they’re capable of taking jobs they’re getting the jobs." - Babcock, from the interview

Let's be honest - the Wings aren't in really bad shape. We've spent the past few seasons "retooling" in the sense that we've kept our core intact and kept the streak alive while also building up a very impressive stable of very promising young players like Nyquist and DeKeyser and Mantha and Mrazek and Sproul and Ouellet and Jurco and Athanasiou. The "youth movement" we've been waiting for is already happening; it's a slow drip rather than one great big swell. We're not rebuilding, not looking to tear everything down and ice a roster with 20 kids. We want what every Cup contender boasts these days: quality veteran leadership (with at least two elite franchise players at the top of the totem pole) and a small army of young studs on early, affordable contracts. And we're in a position to have that very soon.

I hate the Quincey and Cleary re-signings. I hated that we brought back Samuelsson. I hated that Nyquist was stuck in Grand Rapids at the start of last season and that Jurco's going to get the same treatment this coming season. But, all things considered, this stuff isn't a big deal. What's important is that we're steadily building up to that kind of roster that can truly compete for the Cup. Again, I think that roster is within reach, we just have to be patient and not do anything really, genuinely, hugely, dangerously stupid. For example, as much as I want a Mike Green on this team, I do feel that moving, say, Nyquist for him would be really, genuinely, hugely, dangerously stupid, or at least close to it. Even if he were to have a great season, do you suppose he re-ups with us? I wouldn't be surprised if he were to re-sign with the Caps, giving them both Nyquist and Green.

But I digress. Point is, it's going to be ok, maybe. I'm generally extremely cynical about the state of the Wings, but if I'm being objective, I like us, and I think we're only going to get better over the next two or three years. Mantha will save us all.

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Babcock is ONE OF the best coaches. I agree. We just happen to disagree on him being THE BEST coach, which is what you said initially. And it's not like he came on to a bad team either. Any argument made in his favor is equally valid for Sutter or Quenneville who, nevertheless, have more Cups.

It's obviously opinion at this point but there's no way I'd want Quenneville over Babcock. Sutter maybe. I think Sutter outcoached and exposed the Hawks this playoffs, and Babcock almost did it the previous year with a helluva lot less talent.

Here's part of the reason I think Babs is a great coach.

"The way I look at it here, if you don't want to be coached, don't come here," Bacock said via Detroit Sports 105.1. "If you want to be pushed to be the best that you can be, that's what we do here. You know what? The proof is in the pudding.

"If [the Wings] are concerned about [free agents not liking me], then I should coach somewhere else."

Am I warm and cuddly every day? I am with my family. I think I care a lot about my players. When you care about people, you make them do it right. When you don't, and there's lots of coaches that don't, then their teams don't do it right and they don't have success. We just have the hard meetings. We get it out front. Does it piss people off once in a while? Absolutely. But it also leads to behavioral changes and getting things better. So you know what, I'm not apologizing for that stuff at all.

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So on the one hand, you say anyone can coach a team if they have enough talent, like Babcock with Team Canada, then on the other hand you say only a great coach can win. You're contradicting yourself, Kippy. But you're not cute ;) If Sutter was so great, how is it that he failed miserably in SJ and Calgary?

He did as well in Calgary as Babs did in Anaheim. They both made it to the finals and lost.

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